Rugby Union 2013-14

[peter w]

watching the 2015 WC qualifier between Madagascar and Zimbabwe in Antananarivo. Grounds is packed - must be 40 000+ easily. 15-22 at half-time.

[peter w]

Zimbabwe pissed it.

They are in a pool of 4 and the WInner goes into Group C with New Zealand. In the other game that day Kenya beat Namibia in a close game. Yesterday Namibia beat Zimbabwe in another close game and Kenya demolished Madagascar. Kenya are really focussing on their 15s in the build up to the World Cup.  They will qualify if they beat Zimbabwe. The team who finish second will play Russia in the repercharge and they qualify.

[UK Redsox]

Are ITV showing these qualifiers ?

I think I read that prior to the 2011 WC, they bought the rights to the qualifiers (or maybe just had them as part of the TV rights for the WC itself) and then didn't bother showing any.

Who has the 2015 broadcast rights in the UK ?

[paul_e]

Are ITV showing these qualifiers ?

I think I read that prior to the 2011 WC, they bought the rights to the qualifiers (or maybe just had them as part of the TV rights for the WC itself) and then didn't bother showing any.

Who has the 2015 broadcast rights in the UK ?

I'm not sure who has the rights but it's irrelevant because they're clearly not interested in showing them.  Sky have the rights to the 6N and the championship (the replacement for the tri-nations now Argentina are included) and both are block negotiations so I guess they have all the rights for the lot and have chosen to do nothing with them.

[peter w]

Unbelievably Kenya are out! lost against Zimbabwe. Namibia demolished Madagascar to finish top. Kenya just bottled it and finished third.